Fallacy of Destiny (Flip Side of "No Guarantee")

"He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight,

just as his ancestor David had done."

2 Chronicles 29:2 NLT

This apple fell far from the tree.  Even though Hezekiah grew up under the influence of his evil father, King Ahaz, he did not follow in his footsteps.  He was not destined to become like his father.  There was hope for Hezekiah, and there is hope for me.  I am not fated to become like anyone else, whether it be parent, teacher, sibling or friend.  No matter how close I am to them or how strong their influence, my life has a path of its own (Hebrews 12:1).

Freedom of Choice.  I have a friend who grew up in a highly dysfunctional home with a father who was barely ever there and a mother who suffered from mental illness.  The messages she heard about God from her parents were conflicting, to the say the least.  There wasn't much love found within the four walls of their house and she could have grown up to suffer from a number of maladies, or be plagued by drugs abuse and promiscuity like her siblings.  Instead, her faith in Christ is strong, her heart is pure and her desire to obey Him led her to the mission field.

I cannot make myself see my need for Jesus; I need God to open my heart to the Gospel (John 6:44).  Even the faith I use to trust in Jesus is from Him (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Timothy 1:13-14).  He gets all the glory for my salvation.  

Once I belong to Him, though, it's up to me to either walk in the Spirit or by my own flesh (Galatians 5:16).  It's my decision if I am to cooperate with His plan of transformation for my life (Romans 12:2, Colossians 3:10).  I can choose the path of life or continue down the crowded road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).  These are choices I have been given and my friend made for Christ despite the horrible examples she had in her parents.  She was not doomed to follow in their footsteps.

Destiny is a fallacy because God has given me freedom of choice as His child.

Stronghold of Sin.  I can either be a slave to sin or to righteousness (Romans 6:17-18).  While the pull of my own sin nature is strong and I may feel like I have to do what comes naturally, I have been given power over this sin through Jesus Christ (Romans 7:24-25a, 8:2).  I am not destined to do what I have always done, to continue in the patterns of destructive behavior I have always known, or to be oppressed by a generational curse.   No, in these things I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 15:56-57).

While sin is a powerful attraction, I have the ability through Christ Jesus to take what was once used for destruction and offer it to God as an instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:11-14).  I can choose to put on the Lord Jesus Christ as I would don a coat, letting His righteousness become my own (Romans 13:14).  I am a new creation in Christ Jesus, the old sin nature has gone, if only I would fully let it go (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Destiny is a fallacy because Jesus Christ has given me victory over sin.

Mission of Enemy.  They really hated his brother.  In fact, they despised him so much they were ready to do him in.  They didn't really care how much he may suffer or how he felt.  All they wanted to do was rid themselves of his annoying presence (Genesis 37:12-36).

After Joseph spent nearly 40 years in Egypt as a result of his brothers selling him into slavery, over 20 of those as second in command to the Pharaoh, he gained a new perspective on the treachery that marked his life.  When faced with possible retribution, his brother's quaked in his powerful presence.  Joseph, understanding God's sovereign plan, replied, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20).

Satan intends to harm me.  In fact, his mission is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a), but Christ came to give me life and life to the full (John 10:10b)!  God can take what my enemy meant for evil and turn it into the best thing that ever happened to me (Romans 8:28).  While my enemy has a mission that is for my destruction, Jesus has a mission to save me and turn the ashes of my life into something beautiful (John 3:17, Isaiah 61:1-3).

Destiny is a fallacy because Jesus has a mission to bring me the abundant life, no matter what my enemy intends.

While it may seem there is no hope for my life when I consider the influences surrounding me, there is always reason for optimism in Christ.  He gives me salvation and the ability to choose to walk with Him, power over sin, and a plan that will blow my mind in it's goodness.  There is no grounds for me to think, then, that I am destined for destruction.   I have the hope of Christ!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God in the great plan He has for me.

When do I resign myself to what seems inevitable?

How am I a victim of my own negative thinking? 

New Way

"I know that nothing good lives in me,

that is, in my sinful nature.

For I have the desire to do what is good,

but I cannot carry it out.

. . .What a wretched man I am!

Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Thanks be to God--

through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Romans 7:18, 24-25a

Monday was the big day; it marked the beginning of the change, the start of a new way of eating, the onset of "The Diet."  All the preparations had been made, fresh fruits and vegetables stocked the refrigerator, whole grain products lined the shelves and lean meats stood at attention in the freezer, waiting for their turn to be consumed.  The plan was in place, enthusiasm was mounting and soon the pounds would start melting off.

Then temptation came, rearing it's ugly head in the form of a mid-morning craving for donuts.  Thoughts of last week's freshly-made cinnamon rolls floated through my mind as the scent of bacon wafted past my nostrils.  Why is it so hard to stick to this diet!  I have the desire, I know what I need to do, but it seems I have no resistance to temptation. How will I ever lose this weight when I can't even get through the first few hours of my diet without thoughts of how I can cheat?

Anyone who has ever gone on a diet knows that the moment you deprive yourself of a certain food, that is the very thing that you want.  If I tell myself I am cutting out potato chips, for instance, I will suddenly grow this strong urge to munch on Ruffles, even if I haven't eaten them in awhile.  

This is a good example of how my sin nature works.  The moment I make an effort to follow God's laws, evil rears it's ugly head.  I may have the desire or urge to do what I know is right in God's eyes, but there is no power within myself to stand up to the temptation to do my own thing instead.

If the law had the ability to save me, there would have been no need for Jesus.  Instead, God gave His law so that I would know how despicable my efforts to obey are.  I fail time and time again!  To add insult to injury, God placed His law within my heart and mind, leaving me no doubt as to how wretched a woman I am. (Jeremiah 31:33)  What hope is there for me, a sinner?

Jesus is my only hope.  As the One who took my place on the cross, taking the punishment meant for my sin, He made a way out of this miserable cycle, giving me a new way to live.

Effort?

One of my favorite television shows as a youngster was "Leave it to Beaver."  This family sitcom took place in the late 1950's and highlighted the lives of Beaver, his brother Wally and their parents, Ward and June Cleaver.  

Many times, the two brothers would get in trouble because of a scheme Wally's sneaky friend, Eddie Haskell, would mastermind.  Eddie usually came out smelling like a rose while his unfortunate friends would bear the brunt of the punishment.  

Eddie didn't care about the welfare of his buddies but only desired to carry out his destructive plans.  Even though Wally and the Beaver were pretty good kids and wanted to do the right thing, it seemed as long as that conniving schemer was around, Wally and the Beaver had no chance of staying on the straight and narrow.

In a similar way, I may desire to do what pleases God, but as long as my sin nature is around, I'm doomed for failure.  Since I can't get away from my flesh, I must find another way to live.  As a follower of Christ, I can no longer depend upon my effort to do what I think is right.

Clearly then, making a resolution to stop swearing will not curb my propensity for cursing.  Neither will declaring my intention to cease from worry stop my incessant anxiety.  I can't expect to stop looking at pornography just because I don't want to do it anymore.  There has to be more to living a godly live than just my attempts at improvement.

Hope to end the cycle of sinful patterns in my life must come from somewhere beyond my own effort.

Anything Goes?

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority began using the infamous slogan, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" in 2005.  While this effective ad campaign may have increased revenue for the city known for gambling, entertainment and wild living, it is not a good  motto by which to live my life.

Sometimes I do, however, adopt this way of thinking when I realize my efforts don't make a dent in my sinful behavior.  Instead of increasing my exertion, which I know will not yield fruit, I may be tempted to take my approach to the opposite extreme.  In doing so, I figure that since my sins are forgiven, I can live any old way I want to live and let the blood of Jesus cover me.

This kind of mindset is dangerous, to say the least.  Not only am I taking too light of a view of sin, but I am also minimizing the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for me.  Every time I fail to reach God's standard of perfection, I deserve death.  My transgressions against a holy God are serious enough that He demands the ultimate penalty.  Every time I fail to follow His ways, I deserve up God's wrath.  

As much as God hates sin, though, that's how much He loves me.  His love drove Him to make a critical  sacrifice in placing His wrath for my sin upon His own Son.  As the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus' death on the cross was enough to atone for the sin of all mankind.  This, however, was not a painless act.  The agony that Jesus endured for my sake goes way beyond anything I can imagine.

Not only was Jesus beaten, scourged, humiliated and tortured, but He also endured separation from His Father.  As the sins of the world came upon Jesus, God turned His back on His beloved Son.  Perhaps the pain of this break in the unity He normally experienced with His Father was even more excruciating than the physical pain of dying a tortuous death.  Love is what drove God to commit this unthinkable sacrifice.

How, then, can I possibly think that sin is not a big deal?  Even if it's just what I call a "little sin," that transgression still was a part of what drove Jesus to the cross.  Clearly, then, living a life where anything goes is not a way to live my life for Jesus.

Hope for an eternity with a holy God and His Son who sacrificed so much for me must drive me away from living as if sin does not matter.

New Way

Since I have no ability within myself to adhere to the Law that God gave, yet sin is plainly not to be dealt with lightly, how should I live my life to please God?  It seems I'm doomed if I try, and doomed if I don't.

The answer lies in not what I do, but whom I follow.  Under the new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:33), I am now able to do what God wants.  Instead of relying on my own effort, I find that as I follow my Shepherd, I am led toward His righteousness. (Psalm 23:3)  He enables me to continue down this path that leads to life, and staying in relationship with Him allows His fruit to be borne in me. (John 15:5-8) In this way, Jesus works in me to accomplish what is pleasing to Him.  (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Instead of trying to have a quiet time every morning, then, I find that I so desire to spend those moments with God that I rise early of my own accord with joy and anticipation of what He will tell me.

As a replacement for not taking a stand against sexually explicit, violent or indecent images that filter into my mind through television, movies and the Internet, I find that my conscience is so disturbed by what I see that I eagerly and willingly dispose of anything in my possession that does not please God.

When I usually have no problem with cheating on my taxes, justifying to myself that the government takes enough already and that I deserve to keep a little more for myself, I suddenly find that the previously rational explanation no longer makes sense and I desire to follow the letter of the law.  

Jesus changes me from the inside out when I submit to His work in my life, leading me to live my life in the new way of the Spirit.

Just as going on a diet seems to set me up for failure, committing myself to doing what God wants will not earn me His favor.  Taking on a form of cheap grace, however, and letting it all hang out is also not the answer to finding God's path.  Instead, it is found by seeking Him with all of my heart and letting Him do the work through me.  Then, I will find that I am walking in the New Way that pleases God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep close to my Shepherd and not go off on either tangent that leads away from Him.

How do I depend on my own effort to do better for God?

When do I find myself giving up on taking a stand against sin and just letting it go?   

Solid Rock

"As he was leaving the temple,

one of his disciples said to him,

'Look, Teacher!  

What massive stone!

What magnificent buildings!'

'Do you see all these great buildings?' replied Jesus.

'Not one stone here will be left on another;

every one will be thrown down.'

Mark 13:1-2

It's hard not to be impressed by the Cathedral of Notre Dame, a 12th to 13th century example of French Gothic architecture and one of the most widely recognized Christian structures in the world.  It was one of the first buildings to use the impressive flying buttress system, allowing for the massive vaulted roof.  The building itself extends to a length of 420 feet while the two towers in front stand 226 feet high.  As if the enormity, beauty and intricate detail were not enough to drop a tourist's jaw, Notre Dame also sits on one of the most scenic spots along the Seine River, making it an impressive example of the feats of man.

The Ancient Greeks created a list of the Seven Wonders of the World which categorizes the most impressive man-made structures in their known world.  Since then, more modern versions have been created to highlight amazing feats of architecture.  Some of the common entries include the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Egyptian Pyramids and the Roman Colosseum.

Man has always been amazed by works of their own hands.  Even in Jesus' times, His disciples were in awe of the temple that stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.  Jesus put things into perspective, however, by reminding them that the temple would be destroyed, as it was by the Romans in 70 AD.  As easy as it is to put my faith in things that seem indestructible and sturdy, everything that is not based on the solid rock of Jesus will one day be turned to ashes.  (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

I can admire and wish to emulate the lives of successful people I see on television, or even sitting in the pew beside me, but if they are not pointing me to Christ, then my focus is off.  Instead, it is my desire to base my life on Him.

Righteousness

I have heard it said more than once that the church is filled with hypocrites who are quick to point out the sin of others but slow to look inward toward their own filthy heart.  This does not make for a welcoming atmosphere.

When I think I'm pretty good in my own right, I can easily see the sins of others while ignoring what's wrong within my own life.  But when I remember my true identity; a sinner saved by grace, then I will be less likely to judge others.

Paul explained to Titus that, "he saved us, not because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."  (Titus 3:5-7)

I am made right with God by the blood of Jesus, not due to anything that is within me.  As Paul goes on to say,  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so no one can boast."  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

I can easily admire others' accomplishments, gentle spirits or tenacious attitudes, but my real foundation for righteousness comes not in trying to be what I think I should be, but in embracing my true identity.  I am a wretched sinner who is saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Basing my life on the solid rock of Jesus means I will always remember that my righteousness comes from Him.

Power

"The Power of Positive Thinking"

"The Magic of Thinking Big"

"How to Attract Health, Wealth, Love and Luck into Your Life Immediately"

"The Art of Happiness"

"The Power of Now"

"The Gateway:Discover the Power to Create an Outrageously Prosperous and Happy Life"

The bookstore is chock-full of ideas of how to tap into some hidden power source to reach the life you've always wanted to live.  The books promise fulfillment, peace, happiness, ambition and new-found energy.  As much as I've tried to will myself to do better, there are always areas in which I struggle and fail. (Romans 7) I just don't have it within me to become the woman God created me to be.

When I took Jesus to be my Savior and committed my life to Him, He gave me the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells within me.  (Acts 3:38  2 Timothy 1:14)  God's Spirit produces all kinds of fruit when I allow Him to rule my life.  (Galatians 5:22-23)  This love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control will be evident to all those around me.  This fruit does not exist when I live by my own effort or when following my heart.  Instead, it comes when I submit my life to God and let Him lead.

The ability to live a life pleasing to God does not exist within my natural self.  Instead, it is an extension of His indwelling Spirit.  "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."  (2 Timothy 1:7)  He is the source of the power to live a godly life.  

Oswald Chambers breaks it down to understandable terms, pointing out the difference between human effort and His supernatural work.  Mr. Chambers says, "It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him."

Basing my life upon the solid rock of Jesus means the power to live a successful life pleasing to God will come from Him.

Teachings

There is nothing more gratifying than in seeing my daughters follow my teachings.  Not only am I thankful to know they were actually listening all those years, but to see them put the wisdom into action means that they have faith in me as their mother.  It is then that I know that they love me.

It is the same with Jesus who heard from a lot of people who claimed to love Him.  Jesus said that those who truly love Him will do as He says.  Those who don't obey His teachings don't really love Him.  This, Jesus said, is all according to the Father who sent Him.  (John 14:23-24)

Jesus set the bar pretty high.  He said I need to turn the other cheek, love my enemies, pray for those who persecute me, and forgive others that hurt me.  (Matthew 5)  I can't even get past my first example because it is in my nature to stand up for myself.  I've never been one to back down from a good fight!

Thankfully, He doesn't expect me to follow His teachings in my own strength.  Instead, He taught that He is, "the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

As I read God's Word, I must take it seriously and apply it to my life.  When I come across a directive that I've neglected to employ in my own life, I can either ignore it, or put it into use.  If I'm rightly related to Jesus at the time, I will want to decide to obey Him and He will give me the ability to do so.

If, however, I've strayed from His side and am following my own lead, then I will easily pass over the directive found in the passage I just read.

Basing my life upon the solid rock of Jesus means I'll have the desire to do what He says.

There are many people, beliefs, movements or lifestyles I may admire in this life.  But basing my life on any of the above will lead to disaster.  Building my life upon the solid rock of Jesus, however, means I'll be made pure and clean by His blood, will have the power to please God, and will be given the desire and ability to follow His teachings.  In this way, I will be placing my hope on things that will last an eternity instead of building a life on things that are weak and temporary.  In the end, God's kingdom is the only thing that will last.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will build my life on Jesus.

How do I get distracted by things I'm doing for God and forget about my relationship with Him?

When do I fail to take a step of faith because I think it depends on my own power?

   

My Wayward Heart

"Even now," declares the LORD,

"return to me with your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.

Rend your heart and not your garments.

Return to the LORD your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.

Be not afraid, O land;

be glad and rejoice.

Surely the LORD has done great things."

Joel 2:12,13,21

I go to church every Sunday.

I consistently and faithfully study the Bible.

I pray on a regular basis.

I remember to thank God for my food before I eat.

I do my best to put His Word into practice in my daily life.

Wow!  I sound like a pretty solid Christian, don't I?  The only problem is that there are many times when my heart has wandered away from the LORD.  

I may still take part in all the rituals, habits and practices that are necessary to develop a close walk with Him, but my heart is not in it.  I'm going through the motions, possibly even getting some intellectual stimulation and motivation to live a more godly life, but when it comes right down to it, I'm more concerned about my character, my holiness and my godliness than I am about glorifying God.  My motivation is purely selfish with little regard for Him, His will, His Name or His renown.

I have strayed from my One True Love. . . but all is not lost.  There is still time to return.

Return

The prodigal son desired things beyond what his father had provided.  He wanted to explore the world and experience all it had to offer.  Soon, though, as he lived it up in that distant land, he fell into hard times.  Once rich, he now yearned for the food he gave to the pigs.  He had hit rock-bottom.  

Finally, he came to his senses and realized how good he once had it in his father's house.  He decided to return, saying to his dad, "I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men." (Luke 15:18-19)

My heart sometimes leads me to faraway lands, distant from God and His people.  My desire for comfort and excitement overpowers me and I am swept away from all the good He has given to me.  I no longer appreciate what He has provided for me and I want more. . . and more . . . and more.   My state of discontent gets me into trouble.  

As with the son in the parable, I have to reach a point where I come to my senses.  Maybe it's when I realize I just can't do it by myself anymore.  Or it hits me that despite all the effort I put into life, I never really feel fulfilled; there's always a hole inside of me.  Or I think back to how good I had it when I lived in my Father's kingdom.  Whatever it is, I become conscious of my need for Jesus.

When this awareness is awakened inside of me, I am suddenly alert to how I have offended God in my rebellion.  I want to return to Him.

Even though I have been unfaithful, my heart can return to God.

Rend

It is said that in order to train a horse, their will, but not their spirit, must be broken.  In other words, the animal must reach a point where he is willing to obey the handler's commands. For some, this is a fairly quick process. For others, however, it could take a lot of patience and persistence until the horse is ready to submit to his trainer.  Until that "breaking point" is reached, a handler can expect a battle of the wills.

In a similar way, the LORD says He is, "close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)  This is not to say that I am damaged goods, but that my heart hurts over the way my sin has grieved God.  A tender heart is sensitive to the sin found within and painfully aware of the need for Jesus to save me from the punishment I deserve.  A contrite heart is ready to submit to God.

As I humble myself before God, trusting Him to do what I cannot, He shows me things I almost cannot bear.  I think Oswald Chambers said it well when he wrote, "God's Spirit continually reveals what human nature is like apart from His grace."  Apart from Him, I can do nothing.  If this thought does not lead me to broken heart, I don't know what will.  There is nothing good within my own flesh.  I am hopeless without Jesus!

Martin Luther understood the importance of rending, or breaking, my heart before a holy God.  He said, "Until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him."   Trusting God with my life means letting Him start from scratch in remaking me into the woman He created me to be.  

When I return to God, it should be with a broken and contrite heart.

Rejoice

It is fun to look through old photo albums, reminiscing about old times.  One of the things I have noticed, however, is that many times my memory does not match up to reality.  For instance, I always felt like I was pretty big and overweight, but when I look at pictures, I don't seem as hefty as my memories led me to believe.  Sometimes, my perspective is skewed, causing me to see things inaccurately.  

It's not much different with life in general.  There are so many good things around me, if only I'd take the time to look.  Unfortunately, most times I'm too caught up with all my problems, difficulties and the minor irritations of life.  It seems like there's nothing good under the sun! 

Looking for all that He has done take practice.  Once I'm accustomed to seeing His hand in all things, it will become second nature.  For instance, it is easy to walk past my hydrangeas everyday when they're in full-bloom and never really see them.  I am too focused on what's going on inside of my head!  If, instead, I would take a moment to marvel at the beauty of God's creativity, I would rejoice and my heart would be lifted up.

Other times, I fail to notice the small blessings in the midst of each momentary crisis, like the protection of His hand on me as I drive or His mercy in granting an additional day to live my life.

The psalmist reminds me that, "The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." (Psalm 126:3)  Choosing to look at all that God has done, instead of focusing on all that is hard in my life, will bring great joy to my heart.  

When my heart is soft, I am able to see all that He has done in my life. . . and I rejoice!

On the outside, I may seem like I have everything together and that I am close to God, but my heart tells a different story.  It tells a tale of waywardness and a need to return to my Creator.  It highlights my need to see my sin for what it is: an affront to God.  My heart is sorely lacking in eyes to see all that He has done.  It is time for my wayward heart to return Home where it belongs!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can humble my heart before a holy God who loves me.  

How do I go through the motions, leaving my heart out of the relationship I have with God?

When is my heart hardened against my sin, seeing it as a flaw instead of as a black hole of evil?